Once the deal – which is subject to approval by Acal shareholders and EU merger control clearance – closes, 180 Acal staff will be integrated into Avnet's technology solutions EMEA division.

Acal chairman Richard Moon said: "Following a strategic review last year the board of Acal plc has concluded that the development of its IT solutions business would be best served as a part of a larger organisation with an international reach."

Throwing its pan-European net wide, Avnet announced earlier this week that it had also agreed to buy Berlin-based components distie Betronik GmbH for an undisclosed sum. ®